Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Santa Clarita, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Santa Clarita, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,557 per month in New York, NY vs $3,705 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,115 per month in New York, NY vs $4,938 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,674 per month in New York, NY vs $6,172 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 23% more than Santa Clarita, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both New York, NY and Santa Clarita, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 240%, Santa Clarita, CA by 177%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.90 $29.90

$18.52 $18.52

61.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$85.5 $85.5

67.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$15.06 $15.06

-15.87%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.86 $5.86

-1.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.15 $3.15

7.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.40 $2.40

12.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$9.19 $9.19

-12.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.93 $8.93

32.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.27 $1.27

26.77%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.95 $3.95

30.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.17 $8.17

$4.93 $4.93

65.72%

Eggs

$7.16 $7.16

$5.55 $5.55

29.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$23.17 $23.17

-25.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$10.70 $10.70

51.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 $20.46

$17.15 $17.15

19.30%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$6.47 $6.47

13.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.67 $3.67

56.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.09 $3.09

111.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$9.90 $9.90

-61.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.30 $4.30

-7.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.93 $2.93

5.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.06 $3.06

-19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.03 $19.03

$13.13 $13.13

44.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 $20.16

$15.11 $15.11

33.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.75 $1.75

65.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.96 $3.96

-5.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.48 $2.48

15.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$26.66 $26.66

387.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.12 $6.12

-18.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.09 $2.09

7.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.20 $42.20

$52.0 $52.0

-18.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.23 $1.23

-21.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K $34.7K

$20.3K $20.3K

70.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.1K $28.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

8.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$183 $183

$231 $231

-20.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.5 $59.5

$63.0 $63.0

-5.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$74.8 $74.8

-15.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$36.79 $36.79

281.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$25.27 $25.27

152.75%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$12.42 $12.42

60.87%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,153 $3,153

$1,437 $1,437

119.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$37.0K $37.0K

52.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$68.7 $68.7

-1.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.48 $48.48

$14.72 $14.72

229.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$49.74 $49.74

131.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$145 $145

16.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,113 $4,113

$2,890 $2,890

42.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$2,275 $2,275

16.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,230 $8,230

$3,924 $3,924

109.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,113 $5,113

$3,135 $3,135

63.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$3,744 $3,744

416.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$4,317 $4,317

102.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,049 $5,049

$5,225 $5,225

-3.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.68

-3.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: April 25, 2026

Last update for Santa Clarita, CA: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,113 in New York, NY versus $2,890 in Santa Clarita, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Santa Clarita, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY versus $85.0 in Santa Clarita, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $476 – making Santa Clarita, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs Santa Clarita, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 23% more than Santa Clarita, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,835 per month in New York, NY and $5,557 in Santa Clarita, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Clarita, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $1,437 in Santa Clarita, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,557 in New York, NY and $3,705 in Santa Clarita, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Santa Clarita, CA costs $3,705 versus $4,557 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Santa Clarita, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.